Risk of overestimation of kidney function using GFR-estimating equations in patients with low inulin clearance.

Background: Accurate estimation of the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is very important in clinical practice. Although renal inulin clearance (Cin) is the gold standard for measuring GFR, the procedure for Cin measurement is complicated. Use of GFR-estimating equations has been increasing recently due to their simplicity.

Extraglomerular C3 deposition and metabolic impacts in patients with IgA nephropathy.

Background: The aim of the present study was to explore the significance of extraglomerular (Bowman's capsule and/or arteriole) C3 (ex-C3) deposits in IgA nephropathy (IgAN).

Methods: One hundred and seventy patients with IgAN were divided into two groups: Group A (n=79), patients who did not have ex-C3 deposits, and Group B (n=91), patients who had ex-C3 deposits.

Results: At the time of renal biopsy, Group B was characterized by a marked increase in diastolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, triglyceride and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol compared with those of Group A.

Significance of broad distribution of electron-dense deposits in patients with IgA nephropathy.

Immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN) is characterized by mesangial cell proliferation and mesangial expansion with mesangial depositions of IgA. We have found that electron-dense deposits (EDD) are often observed in areas other than paramesangial areas in glomeruli. To compare electron microscopic findings with light microscopic findings and clinical data, we examined the biopsies from 178 patients with IgAN.

Serum concentration of complement components of the lectin pathway in maintenance hemodialysis patients, and relatively higher levels of L-Ficolin and MASP-2 in Mannose-binding lectin deficiency.

Mannose-binding lectin (MBL), L-ficolin and MBL associated serine protease-2 (MASP-2) are molecules involved in initiation of the lectin pathway (LP) in the complement system. Although MBL deficiency is observed in almost 10% of healthy people, studies of associations between MBL deficiency and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) remain rare. The objective of the present study is to clarify the significance of the LP in maintenance hemodialysis (HD) patients, especially in terms of MBL levels.

Immune Complex-Mediated Complement Activation in a Patient with IgG4-Related Tubulointerstitial Nephritis.

A 59-year-old man was diagnosed with IgG4-related tubulointerstitial nephritis. His symptoms as well as laboratory and imaging findings were improved after initiation of steroid therapy. Serologically, he showed hypocomplementemia (C3 23 mg/dl, C4 <2 mg/dl, CH50 <7 U/ml) with high levels of IgG (IgG4 1,970 mg/dl) and immune complexes (C1q assay 8.

Complement in patients receiving maintenance hemodialysis: functional screening and quantitative analysis.

Background: The complement system is vital for innate immunity and is implicated in the pathogenesis of inflammatory diseases and the mechanism of host defense. Complement deficiencies occasionally cause life-threatening diseases. In hemodialysis (HD) patients, profiles on complement functional activity and deficiency are still obscure.

Evidence of immunopathological traces in mucormycosis: an autopsy case.

A 77-year-old diabetic man newly contracted pulmonary mucormycosis. A rapidly progressing clinical course including severe worsening of pneumonia and renal failure culminated in death. This patient presented with hypocomplementemia and dermal vasculitis.

Metabolic impact on serum levels of complement component 3 in Japanese patients.

The aim of this study was to explore the association between the serum concentration of complement component 3 (C3) and a variety of metabolic parameters. The study involved 125 patients in our outpatient clinic. Anthropometric and clinical laboratory data were collected and statistical associations between the serum concentration of C3 and other parameters were evaluated in a cross-sectional as well as a prospective manner.

A novel measurement method for activation of the lectin complement pathway via both mannose-binding lectin (MBL) and L-ficolin.

Mannose-binding lectin (MBL), L-ficolin and H-ficolin are human serum lectins, all of which form complexes with MBL-associated serine proteases (MASP). The lectin-MASP complexes bind to the surface of microbes, leading to activation of the lectin pathway of complement. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) of the lectin pathway activity reported so far determined the activity via either MBL or L-ficolin, but an assay of activity via plural host defense lectins has not been established.